A/n: I'm sitting in an airport trying to post this, hopefully it works. Thanks for all your feedbck guys, I promise things will start getting interesting soon.

Chapter 4

Adrian was never one to scoff at a party, but in the current climate even he thought that the annual winter's ball could have been postponed a couple of weeks.

"It'll be good." Lissa had said. "Give people something happy to think about. Show them that we're not afraid."

"Aren't we?" Adrian asked curiously.

The Queen gave him a dark look. "Of course we are Adrian but we can't let the people see that."

Adrian didn't agree but then he wasn't King.

He nodded and had resolved himself to picking out an outfit. He was now sitting at a fancy table at the side of the room scratching at a loose thread in the table cloth. Jill sat next to him just as quiet. Guardians were placed subtly around them. Jill couldn't walk two feet without being shadowed.

Eddie wasn't among them.

Hence the reason for Jill's mood.

"It won't be forever." Adrian supplied, hoping that at least one of them could be happy about the occasion. He stopped his destruction of the tablecloth and started shredding a napkin into tiny pieces. "There might be a cooling off period but then he'll be back to guarding you. Lissa, Rose, Dimitri, me, you. There are too many powerful people on his side."

Jill looked at him mournfully, she was dressed beautifully of course, her brown hair up in a high bun, but her attitude affected the overall outcome. "I don't care about that." She said.

Eddie's career had suffered before she knew. Of course killing a crazed Moroi in defence of Lissa was a bit different to trying to kill her in a compulsion induced rage, but Jill agreed with Adrian's overall assessment, with all the powerful friends Eddie had. His career would be safe.

Their relationship however, probably wouldn't.

Eddie was still suspended and therefore absent from the ball. But he hadn't looked her in the eye once since he'd been snapped out of the malicious spell. He'd apologised profusely and answered all the Guardian's questions succinctly. But he hadn't looked at her, hadn't touched her when all she wanted to do was hug him and tell him it was alright.

It had been hard enough before, kissing him only once and pretending to the world like she didn't have the biggest crush on her protector.

Now it would be impossible.

She decided to change the already depressing topic to something equally as bad. "So, Sydney seems happy."

Adrian snorted and swivelled his eyes to the dance floor. Happy wasn't the word he would have chosen. In fact, although she seemed outwardly content to be on the dance floor with Ian's arms around her Adrian could see the anxiety in her body. The tension in her smile as she looked at her colleague.

Adrian wished he could say it was because she knew the liar she was swaying with or because she was truly starting to remember the truth. But honestly it had more to do with being in a room surrounded by vampires in cocktail dresses.

Lissa had invited them of course. Another small step forward for Alchemist Vampire relations. Sydney and Ian had grilled Eddie too, after the incident with Jill; after all it was their job to decipher who was behind these attacks.

Adrian watched them twirl slowly and he longed for a drink. She looked beautiful of course, in a simple black dress with long sleeves. She always wore long sleeves these days he noticed. Her hair was down, covering her neck and shoulder and Adrian wondered if it was for a similar reason to the sleeves.

The napkin turned into even smaller pieces. "If you've got any brilliant ideas Jillian, now would be the time to unveil them." He had thought that since their last conversation in the hallway outside his room, that maybe just maybe things would have taken a step forward. He was wrong of course. She still skittered around him, avoiding his eye, stepping closer to Ian in a way that made Adrian's jaw clench.

He knew it was stupid to be jealous, the situation of a brainwashed girlfriend, should have evoked anger, sadness and maybe hopelessness. But it was instead jealousy he felt every time he saw them together, dressed alike and talking quietly in a language he couldn't understand.

Every time that man put his hands on her, like he was doing right now, as the song came to an end and Ian leaned into whisper something to her, his hands sliding up her back.

The napkin was practically non-existent now.

Then miraculously, the day was saved, by one of Adrian's least liked people.

Dimitri Belikov.

The Guardian, who was dressed in his white and black clothes had stepped close to the two Alchemists and seemed to be talking politely to them. Adrian saw Sydney's knuckles turn white on Ian's shoulder before she nodded stiffly.

The music started up again and Adrian was surprised to see Belikov take Ian's place. His hands were friendlier, the distance between them more platonic, but Adrian felt the familiar tug of jealously.

He cursed.

But maybe that was just an automatic response to Belikov. Better him then the son of a bitch Alchemist.

Jill watched his face and noted humourlessly that his attempt to perk up the evening had just taken a turn for the worse. Maybe it was best they sat in silence instead.

Sydney's heart was pounding in her chest; she hoped that the vampire in front of her wouldn't be able to hear it drumming.

Surely he wouldn't try anything dangerous in public.

Then she took a look around, realised again that she was surrounded by his kind and knew she couldn't count on any help from them. So instead, she tried her best not to make him mad, and survive the dance, her blood in tact.

He smiled at her, and something twinged at the back of her head, a familiar feeling. "You don't remember me do you?" he asked quietly. His accent was almost unnoticeable these days.

Sydney forced her head downwards in a stiff nod. "I do. We've…met previously." Because how else do you explain their previous endeavour to free his fugitive girlfriend? She wondered again if maybe then she'd be compelled, but no, it had merely been foolishness on her part to trust these monsters.

Now she knew better.

He nodded at her. "I don't think I ever thanked you for helping me and Rose, we wouldn't have made it if not for you."

She watched his expression as he said this. But there was no mocking, no underlying smugness. The tone he used on her now was polite and soft, not the one she remembered.

She wondered if Rose would sound as threatening and uncaring if she spoke to her now as well.

"Your welcome." It was all she could think to say. The song was progressing and Sydney knew she would only have to endure another few minutes of his company.

"My family asked about you, you know?" Sydney almost froze in place before she managed to move her limbs back to the beat again. Her jaw clenched.

"That's nice." She said tightly. She remembered his family only vaguely. Blood whores, who had lived in Russia. They'd been useless and flighty and frankly pathetic but at least they hadn't bitten her.

"My youngest sister—"

"Victoria." She almost jumped at her own words. She expected the name to come out like spit but instead she could still hear the ringing of fondness in her own tone.

Dimitri smiled again, his eyes were warm and brown and that uncomfortable feeling in the back of her mind intensified. "Vika," she must have been imagining the look in his eyes as he spoke his sister's name. So warm and loving. So not…vampire.

The string quartet playing the music lowered their sound an octave as they started the final verse and Dimitri looked up, his face suddenly serious.

"Have you spoken to Adrian yet?" the tension returned to her as she regarded the question. Adrian, Adrian Ivashkov. She didn't want to think about him, couldn't think about him.

"No." she bit out darkly, hoping he would drop the subject. No such mercy from a vampire.

"You should." He said firmly. "He has a lot to tell you, I know if you spoke to him, he could give you a lot of answers." He was staring at her so intently; it took Sydney a moment to convince herself that Dhamphirs couldn't perform compulsion.

"About the attacks?" the song was winding down.

"No. About you. I've know a few Alchemists before who…they can never do it perfectly, there are always memories they missed or—" the song ended.

Sydney stepped away from him instantly, she tried to turn but he caught her wrist. Fear shot through her body but his touch was light, as she turned to look at him, his eyes were hopeful but serious. "He never stopped looking for you Sydney, after they took you, just like Rose…"

She tugged her arm free and there was a familiar presence at her side instantly, she relaxed a little at the warm touch of Ian's hand at her back. She nodded stiffly to the Dhamphir. "Thankyou for the dance Mr Belikov."

She squeezed Ian's hand as they moved through the crowd, no one seemed to be paying them any attention and Sydney let out a relieved breath, they reached the edge of the dance floor and Ian put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I'm sorry I should never have let him—"

"No." her voice was soft but she managed a smile. "Its fine, we have to play nice remember." He looked relieved at her words and leaned forward to gently kiss her on the mouth.

That should have been enough to distract her but all Sydney could think about was Belikov's last words. "He never stopped looking for you…" did he wish her pain so much? Had the Alchemists saving her been too much for him to handle?

Unbidden, a different answer came to her mind.

Because he loved you.

"Like Rose" Rose had wanted to save Dimitri, she remembered that much, she had loved him as much as a vampire could love anything.

But that didn't make sense; Adrian was the danger, the monster…

The words sounded wrong in her mind. Lies.

She pulled away from Ian, the pain in the back of her head increasing, she'd have a migraine soon, which usually meant only one thing, withdrawals, she would need another injection tonight.

Maybe that would take away the confusion.

"He never stopped looking for you…"

"Miss Sage?" She really wasn't in the mood for any more conversations with vampires tonight, but she turned dutifully towards the voice.

Sonya Karp stood in front of them; her red hair pulled up in a bun, dressed in a flowy blue dress, a handsome man in Guardian garb had his arm twined with hers.

Her eyes were brown and warm in reality, but Sydney's breath hitched as she saw red pupils and hatred, her skin a freckled white, instead looked like chalk, almost transparent.

Ian covered for her silence. "Mrs Karp." He nodded politely. "Can we help you?" that was maybe less polite.

The red haired women shook her head, "No," she smiled at Sydney, "I just wanted to see you aura. It's quite different to the last time we met." Did these people just talk about their unnaturalness so casually? "We should catch up; you're the only person I know who can hold a decent conversation on culture these days."

One more false smile or kind word and Sydney was going to snap, Ian squeezed her hand and he was the only thing anchoring her. "Maybe some other time, we have to be getting back to our room, work to be done tomorrow."

Sonya Karp didn't seem surprised by this response; she smiled sedately, not taking her eyes off Sydney as the two Alchemists made their retreat from the party.

The pounding in her head was worse then ever, she was remembering oddly a tea room and a game pinochle, Adrian had tipped the game board half way through when he'd begun loosing, Sonya had chided him and Sydney had rolled her eyes at his cheeky grin.

She needed to get out of there.

Adrian didn't know what compelled him to follow them, but he suspected again it was that damn emotion jealousy. The second that scumbag had kissed her; Adrian had decided he'd be up to mischief that night. Seeing her practically flee the room, after talking to Sonya just sealed the deal.

No one had ever accused him of being sneaky though, so he'd brought Jill with him. Maybe some good old fashioned stalking would get her mind off her current love-life dramas.

It certainly wouldn't help him with his.

Especially not when he saw the two Alchemists stop outside their room, it was far from the other dorms, almost segregated, and Adrian dearly hoped that their religious values would be enough to keep them from sharing a room and getting up to what he would have if alone in a room with Sydney Sage.

She was breathing hard, looking terribly confused. Adrian had always loved it when she was confused, so rare but so cute. It had always made him want to kiss her. Apparently Ian felt the same. But when he pulled back from her lips and Jill squeezed Adrian's finger comfortingly, Sydney didn't look any less distressed.

"I can't take this Ian, I can't do this. I can't be around these monsters." The last word was practically dripping with acid. Who was she trying to convince?

Ian pulled her into his arms; his golden tattoo glinted in the low light of the hall. "Shh, Syd, its okay, we won't be here much longer. Just until they decide its time. We're almost ready."

Adrian frowned and as he glanced at Jill he saw she was mirroring his expression, what did that mean? Surely they were here until they solved the case?

"But why do we have to be here at all?" Her voice was so soft, weak.

Ian leant his forehead against hers, her fingers curled in his shirt, were practically white. "You know why." His next sentence made Adrian frown even more. "They can't suspect."

Jill met his eye and mouthed 'what?' Adrian shrugged, he tugged Jill a little further back behind the wall, they didn't want to be spotted now. The Alchemists kept talking.

"But why us? Why me? Every time I see him—" The words bit off but Adrian didn't need them to know she was talking about him. She changed tact looking up at Ian. "I think I need some more."

More what?

"I don't think that's a good idea, twice in two weeks…"

"Ian, please."

He sighed.

"Its bad for you Syd, it comes from them, it's not right."

"Would you prefer the alternative?" she asked quietly.

Ian's jaw clenched. "No," he shook his head and opened the door to their room with a key. "I just hate what they did to you."

Sydney spoke and Adrian could have sworn that for a second it almost sounded like doubt in her voice. "So do I."

Was he imagining that? The Alchemists disappeared into their room and the hallway was deserted again, except for Jill and Adrian who sat in silence thinking.

It was a while before they finally had the courage to move.

"You don't eat nearly enough."

Sydney looked up from the book she was reading, it was in Cyrillic, the language of Russia but it was no more difficult then English to her. Olena Belikov had entered the room. An apron covering her middle, flour in her hair. The whole Belikov residence smelt like baking cookies, Rose had left that morning, with the grandmother of the family.

Sydney didn't know how to reply, so instead she shrugged. "I don't eat a lot of Russian food." That was a lie, she rather liked the taste but it seemed a better excuse then, 'I'm trying to stay thin to match your vampire perfection.'

Olena smiled knowingly, "I bet it's different." Her expression grew sad, "I remember the letters Dimka used to write, always complaining about the grease and the weak flavours of American food."

Dimka, Dimitri. Her dead son.

Sydney didn't know what to say, she was never very good with emotions. But Olena smiled at her kindly anyway as if just listening was all she had to do. "I've made you some cookies anyway; if you don't want them I'm sure the girls will finish them off."

She turned and left for the kitchen.

Sonya Karp reminded her off Olena Belikov. She sat in her dinning chair, with tea and a biscuit. Her messy red hair pulled up. Jill was sitting cross legged on the ground, chewing on her own biscuits. Eddie stood protectively near by, Adrian was absent, at one of his college classes.

"My dear, you just have to see the Netherlands in the winter, most beautiful." Sonya was speaking to her, her voice kind, her eyes warm.

Jill spoke from her place on the floor, "My mum and dad took me to Germany once. They have the best chocolate."

"I thought that was the Swiss?" Sydney asked with a grin.

Jill made a face, "I didn't like their's. Too rich."

Sydney laughed. She reached for a biscuit and got a good look at her own arm. The skin was white and smooth unmarred by raised bite marks. That confused her, she clenched her fist and the veins stood out in her hand. They were onto another topic now, Jill was speaking again. Something about her homework. Sydney shook her head; there was an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach, she felt nauseous.

"Sydney are you alright?" she looked at the concerned faces turned towards her. Friends…her friends were worried about her.

Was she alright?

The feeling was spreading from her stomach up through her chest, clogging her throat, she chocked. Sonya reached out to touch her, her hands were warm, not like ice. Her eyes were kind, not ringed with red.

"Sydney?"

She wasn't alright.

Something was very wrong. She wanted to go back, go back to before, where she'd been happy. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been happy.

"Sage?" that was Adrian's voice. Where had he come from? He looked at her with green eyes and she felt the pain turn to the warmth, to heat. He had that effect on her.

"Adrian?"

He didn't answer and he was disappearing, fading away. She called out to him. "Adrian, wait!"

No answer.

Darkness.

Sydney bolted upright gasping, the warmth from her dream was still there spreading over her whole body, confusing her mind. She was happy, but that wasn't right, she tried to fight through it but the chemical in her system made it impossible and soon, she was sleeping again, no dreams, no memories just a giddy smile.